West Ham United Arthur Masuaku loan termination ‘complete fabrication’
Arthur Masuaku has not fallen out with Besiktas’ management team with the West Ham loanee set to see out the duration of his loan spell in Turkey, according to Claret and Hugh.
Fotomac had claimed (13 February) the Super Lig side were keen to send the 29-year-old back to the London Stadium before their transfer window closes on 18 February.
However, Claret and Hugh have since suggested the reports were “fabricated nonsense” and that he will remain on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
“Claret & Hugh’s top source at the club has today exclusively revealed that reports circulating surrounding Arthur Masuaku are fabricated nonsense,” they wrote (14 February).
“However it has been confirmed to Claret & Hugh within the last hour that there has been no such disagreement, and the player is expected to complete his 12-month loan move to its conclusion.”
No surprise
The initial reports of a bust-up between Masuaku and Besiktas did seem a little bit far-fetched. The full-back clearly doesn’t have a future at the London Stadium and will be looking to move elsewhere permanently when his loan comes to an end.
It would make very little sense for the full-back to return to England and the 29-year-old has actually made 20 appearances in the 2022/23 campaign to date. He’s clearly part of Besiktas’ plans with the reports there to produce some transfer speculation.
The full-back areas should certainly be an area of focus for David Moyes when the summer transfer window opens. Vladimir Coufal is now past 30, Aaron Cresswell is coming to the end of his career and Maxwel Cornet has been blighted by injuries. A younger alternative is certainly an area for the West Ham boss to consider.
However, the primary and more immediate objective is for the Irons to secure their Premier League safety, and Moyes’ men head to Tottenham on Sunday looking to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three.